In this section

HOUSES OF CISTERCIAN MONKS

9. THE ABBEY OF BRUERN

The Cistercian abbey of Bruern was founded
by Nicholas Basset in 1147. (fn. 1) Unfortunately no
chartulary is extant, (fn. 2) but many of the original
deeds are preserved at the Record Office, (fn. 3) and a
few at the British Museum and the Bodleian
Library; we have also valuable confirmations by
Henry II (about 1170), by Richard I in 1189,
and by John in 1205. (fn. 4) From these we learn
that the original name of the abbey was 'the
church of St. Mary of the heath of Tretone (de
brueria Tretonie),' (fn. 5) Treton being the manor
which in Domesday Book is called 'Draitone.'
The first grant of Nicholas Basset must have
consisted of a tract of open pasture (brueria) on
which the abbey was erected; but at some time
after the confirmation charter of Henry II, and
probably about 1173, the founder gave the whole
of his manors of Treton and Nethercote, together with the church of Treton. (fn. 6) From that
time the name of Treton and the parish church
almost disappeared; as the Cistercians paid no
tithes on land which they farmed, there would
have been no income for the parson, and in 1535
the parish church was represented by Sandbrook (fn. 7)
chapel, and the manor itself was ultimately called
Bruern.

The property of the monastery lay in the
western part of Oxfordshire and the eastern part
of Gloucestershire, and also at Priddy in Somerset. Among early grants may be mentioned
a gift of land at Holwell in Swalcliffe, attributed
by Madox to the time of Bishop Robert Grosteste, but in reality of the time of Robert de
Chesney (1148-66). (fn. 8) There is also a deed by
Robert de Witefeld, sheriff of Oxford 1181-5,
by which he gives two hides at Milton-underWychwood, mentioning that Peter his uncle
was a lay brother at Bruern. (fn. 9) Much of the
property of the abbey, especially in Gloucestershire, was suitable for sheep-farming; (fn. 10) and
Bruern, even more than most Cistercian houses,
must have trusted to the wool trade. It is
noticeable that in 1233 the monks obtained a
grant from the king, that no one should distrain
them for a debt by their sheep, so long as they
have other beasts or goods by which they may
be distrained. (fn. 11) Of churches they possessed only
Treton and Denchworth in Berkshire, the latter
having been appropriated before 1376, (fn. 12) but after
1291. (fn. 13) At the latter date the income of the
abbey was stated to be £73, but the return does
not seem to be complete.

We have but little knowledge of the history
of this abbey. In 1232 there were building
operations in connexion with its church, (fn. 14) and in
1250 the bishop of St. Asaph consecrated the
altar of the Virgin Mary and St. Edmund the
Confessor. (fn. 15) In 1252, as the abbot had neglected
to make a visitation of the abbey of Beaulieu,
which had been imposed upon him by the
general chapter of the Cistercian order, it was
ordered that by way of punishment he should be
deposed from his stall for twenty days. (fn. 16) In 1279
the same chapter issued an injunction to the
abbots of Ford, Tintern, and Neath to examine
into the promotion of the abbot of Bruern,
who was said to be guilty of intriguing (conspirator). (fn. 17) Next year we have the entry that
'Augerus,' late abbot of Bruern, is said to
have been deposed unjustly; therefore the abbot
of Tintern and others are to visit the abbey and
make a report. (fn. 18) Finally, in 1281 they report
that Augerus is eligible for the post of abbot at
Bruern or elsewhere, and the five monks who
had traduced him are ordered to fast 'on bread
and water' every Saturday until further notice. (fn. 19)
There is no doubt that this 'Augerus' is to be
identified with the 'Rogerus' who was deposed
in 1279, (fn. 20) Robert de Estal being chosen in his
place. Whether Roger, or Auger, was re-appointed in 1281 we do not know, but we find
that the abbot in 1290 was named Robert.
From 1284 to 1340, as we learn from the Close
Rolls, the monastery owed large sums of money,
amounting in the former year to 2,100 marks, in
the latter to 1,100; and in 1304 it was so
oppressed with debt that it was put into the
custody of W. de Rodeston. (fn. 21) It also had the
trouble of a disputed succession; for in 1363
Robert de Stoe, monk of Bruern, who had
been proctor at the papal court for the monks
against John de Dunster, formerly abbot,
when the verdict was given in favour of the
abbot, so that he was reinstated, petitioned the
pope that he might become a monk of Beaulieu,
fearing the anger of Abbot John, if he returned
to Bruern. (fn. 22) Three years later the abbot himself made a petition for an indulgence for those
who contribute to the repair of the monastery, as
it had been occupied for five years by an intruded
person, who had so wasted the property of the
abbey that it could only support six persons
instead of sixty monks and sixty lay brothers. (fn. 23)
These numbers, however, are incredible, if we
remember how slender the income of the house
was.

Brighter days came in 1382, when licence
was given to acquire the manor of Fifield, in
Oxfordshire, and other lands to the value of £10
a year. (fn. 24) In 1440 King Henry VI granted them
at a rent of £8 a year the advowson of the
church of Wootton with licence to appropriate;
but in 1461 Edward IV revoked the gift. (fn. 25) In
1529 and 1530 we hear of riots at Bruern, and
attempts to unseat John Chaffcombe, the abbot. (fn. 26)

In 1526 the gross income was £134, net £120;
in 1535, at which date the house contained twelve
monks in priests' orders and three that were not
ordained, the income was returned at £136 net.
Cromwell's commissioner at this time reported
that the abbot was well learned in Holy Scripture,
and had repaired the damage done to the house
by his negligent predecessor, and had brought
the convent into good order. (fn. 27) This abbot was
Richard King, (fn. 28) possibly a relation of Dr. Robert
King, abbot of Bruern in 1527, when he was
promoted to the abbacy of Thame. (fn. 29) The house
was suppressed and the monks expelled in October, 1536, (fn. 30) the abbot receiving a pension of
£22. (fn. 31)